St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands – In a shocking turn of events, three Puerto Rican men have been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in the United States Virgin Islands.
Pedro Juan Ramos-Ramirez, 27, Gerald Albert Cruz, 26, and Johnny Arias-Rodriguez, 27, all of Puerto Rico, were indicted on two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court documents, on December 29, 2021, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air Marine Operations officers interdicted a ‘go-fast’ vessel operating without navigational lights heading away from the northwestern coast of St. Thomas.
While in pursuit of the go-fast vessel, CBP officers noticed two occupants of the vessel throwing what appeared to be black duffel bags into the ocean.
The CBP officers then attempted to stop the vessel, but it failed to comply. The captain and two crew members were detained by CBP, and the duffel bags were recovered from the ocean.
The duffel bags contained 73 bricks of cocaine that weighed approximately 75 kilograms.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations, and being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands urges anyone with information regarding this case to contact the FBI’s Tips Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Defendant’s Name: Pedro Juan Ramos-Ramirez, Gerald Albert Cruz, Johnny Arias-Rodriguez
Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine while on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States
City and State: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Exact Date: December 29, 2021
Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending
Dollar Amounts: $0
Key Facts
- State: Virgin Islands
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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